StyleBakery.com | Ask The Style Chefs

ask us

( have a style question? email us )

Q. I am visiting friends for Memorial Day weekend in New York City and haven’t a clue what to pack! We’ll be shopping and going to a museum or two during the day and going out to fun dinners at night. What should I bring?

summer-city-180.jpg

A. I love New York on holiday weekends when most of us head out to the Hamptons or Jersey Shore and restaurants seem a bit easier to get into and the streets are a touch less crowded. Some of my favorite places to spend time outdoors are on the lower West Side’s Esplanade by the water near Battery Park City and dining al fresco in the meatpacking district (great for people watching!) Be sure to hit the High Line and Chelsea Market while you’re down there for a truly NY experience.

Packing for a shopping/eating/touring weekend in the city is a lot easier than you think. Pack a few of your favorite day-to-night dresses, some well chosen accessories, and your most comfortable pair of chic summer sandals. The idea is to dress like a local (read: stylish), so leave your gym sneakers and faded t-shirts at home! Here are a few essential items to add to your weekend bag:

Q. Last week you mentioned your daily summer uniform of a simple cotton or linen dress for daytime. Can you give me some examples?

A. With pleasure! On any given day in the summer, you will likely find me wearing a lightweight dress and a pair of sandals or wedges. There’s literally nothing easier or more comfortable to wear. My closet is full of these daytime dresses, making getting dressed in the morning a breeze. Packing for summer vacations and weekends away is also relatively easy, since many of these dresses can be dressed up for an evening out or even worn over a swimsuit to the beach.

I generally look for styles that resist wrinkles and don’t need to be dry cleaned, so my day dresses can be laundered at home. Avoid fabrics like polyester or silk that don’t breathe and opt for cotton or cotton/linen blends instead. I also stick to styles that are under $100 (under $50 is even better!), saving my more expensive purchases for nicer dresses to wear to work meetings or events. Another important requirement is that I don’t need any special underpinnings, meaning, the dresses can be worn with a basic bra or racerback bra, or even a tank top underneath for fuss-free dressing.

perfect-day-dress-180.jpg

Here are some perfect budget-friendly day dresses to wear all summer long:

Q. I’m looking for a casual, lightweight summer skirt to go with cute cotton summer tee shirts and tanks. I would like something that is a slight A-line, in a white or khaki color. I’m 5’1 and 40 years old, so I would like it to hit right above or at the knee. I can’t find a skirt like this anywhere! Please help.

A. I, too, love the summer uniform consisting of a tank or tee and a skirt with sandals. In fact, for years this was pretty much all I wore, amassing quite a collection of A-line skirts in a variety of colors and prints. I’ve since moved on to mostly dresses in the summer which, if you can believe it, is even easier than throwing on a skirt/t-shirt combination since it consists of just one piece. So now my varied collection of skirts has transitioned to a closet full of casual lightweight cotton and linen dresses.

summer-skirts-180.jpg

Ah, but enough about me, right? Here are some white and tan colored skirts to get you through the summer:

Q. My fiancé and I are eloping and then celebrating with a big party a few weeks later with all of our friends and family. I would like to look “bridal” without wearing a traditional wedding gown. Can you help me find a fun, cocktail-style white dress to wear to my wedding party?

A. Congratulations! I think wearing a white cocktail dress is the perfect solution for looking like a bride at your party, while still wearing something a little less formal and traditional than a bridal gown. Below are some options for you. [Note: these dresses would also be perfect for an engagement party, elopement, or any less formal wedding occasion]

051211-180.jpg

get the scoop


subscribe to our free weekly email! rss feed follow us on Twitter! Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Pinterest!

like us on facebook!

subscribe + win




email:


Around the Web:

Archives